Windshield cleaning system



March 4, 1941. E. c. HoRToN l WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM Filed June 3, 19157 HQE.

INVENTOR Efwm @.Hofon Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1937, Serial No. 146,221

5 Claims.

This invention relates t0 automotive accessories such as automatic cleaners of the type" usually employed in cleaning the windshields of motor vehicles.

In my present invention, I provide an accessory, such as a windshield cleaner mechanism which derives its actuating energy from a moving uid stream, specified herein as the lubricating oil in the crank case of an internal combustion engine but which might be any other available source of energy in the nature of a fluid stream moving under pressure.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein the transmission of energy from the moving stream of oil to the windshield cleaner is positive and direct and for the attainment of that and other objects I have provided motor means actuated by the pressure or motion of the lubricant and mechanicall drive means extending between the motor means and the accessory.

'I'he motor means which I contemplate is so constructed and arranged that when the load imposed upon it exceeds its potential torque its operation automatically ceases and the actuating iluid is merely by-passed about the movable part or parts of the motor without strain on the working parts or other injurious result.

'I'he invention further has for its object to provide an improved accessory system operated by a fluid circuit of the motor vehicle, wherein the arrest of the accessory is accomplished in a most satisfactory manner.

Cessation of operation of the accessory may be accomplished mechanically as by arresting movement of the accessory or its mechanical drive means. I preferably so arrange my locking or stop means that it will always become effective to stop the mechanical drive means with the cleaner or other accessory in a predetermined phase of its movement, regardless of the position of the accessory and the drive means at the moment the stop means is actuated to arrest further action thereof.

By my present invention I provide a device wherein the drive means from the source of energy to the accessory is wholly mechanical and positive and which may yet be acted upon at any convenient point on the accessory or throughout the extent of the drive means to bring about cessation of operation with and disconnection or declutching of the drive means or the accessory. This makes for simplicity of construction and is accompanied by the advantage which derives from the fact that neither the motor nor the drive means are .moving idly when the accessory is not in use.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of my new apparatus associated with a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the cleaner portion of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the mechanical power take-off means associated with the iluid stream;

Fig. 4 is a view taken approximately from the position indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the means for arresting the operation of the automatic cleaner. In this view the parts are in a position wherein the cleaner is operative;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts in position wherein operation of the cleaner is arrested; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In the illustrated embodiment' the numerals I0 and I I in Fig. l designate the hood and cowl portions, respectively, of a motor Vehicle and the windshield thereof is indicated at I2. The interna] combustion driving engine I3 of the vehicle has a lubricant circulating pump I4 disposed in its crank case I5.

The drive for the accessory is depicted herein as being operated from the lubricating system of which the pumpv I4 constitutes a part. Accordingly, an opening is provided in the wall of the crank case I5 for receiving and positioning the means for taking ofi' power for operating the windshield cleaner, which power take-01T means includes the closure member IB adapted to be secured over the opening and providing 'journalled support for a shaft II carrying a toothed or bladed wheel such as the turbine wheel or rotor I8 disposed in the interior of the crank case for being acted upon by the flowing liquid. A portion of the lubricating fluid is directed through a conduit 25 and, acting under the pressure imparted thereto by the circulating pump I4, is discharged through a jet I8 provided at the terminal portion of the conduit 25. The -jet I9 is supported against the interior of the crank case I5 in such position that the stream of lluid emerging therefrom impinges against the blades or impellers of the rotor I8 causing rotation thereof.

The power developed is transmitted to the accessory, herein the wiper 38, by a positive or mechanical transmission. The transmission illustrated includes a worm or helical pinion 26 on the outer end of the shaft I1, for engagement with a worm wheel or helical gear 2| having its axis substantially at right angles to the worm or pinion 26 and positioned upon the terminal portion of a iiexible shaft 22 leading up to the accessory. The gear drive just described is encased in an extension 23 provided on the plate member I6 and has a suitable cover 24. The iiexible shaft 22 is provided with a suitable conning casing 22a or conduit in a manner which is well known.

Referring to Fig. 2, the-accessory is shown as comprising a pair of wiping arms 36 pivotally mounted at 3| on the opposite sides oi.' the outer surface of the windshield |2 lfor moving the carried wipers 38 in wiping contact therewith.

Their pivot shafts are provided with pinions 32 meshing with adjacently mounted gears 33 which carry therewith crank arms 34. Disposed between the vtwo wiper mountings is a rotatable shaft 35 carrying a crank arm 36 which is preferably shorter than the crank arms 34 and connected to both crank arms 34 by links 31.

It will be seen that, owing tothe fact that the crank arms 34 are substantially longer than the crank arm 36, continuous rotation of the central shaft 35 and its associated crank arm 36 will, through the medium of the links 31 and the crank arms 34, cause the gears 33 and consequently the pinions 3| and the wiper varms 36 to oscillate about their pivot points 3|. Oscillation of the arms 36 causes the wiping blades 38 to n vmove back and forth across the surface of `the windshield l2 for cleaning the same. A gear 46 is fixed to the Central shaft 35 and meshes With a worm 4 I\ carried by the end of the exible shaft 22 opposite the end carrying the gear 2| so that rotary motion of the rotor I8 is transmitted to the shaft 35.

For parking or arresting the wipers at a defi# nite point, outside the eld of `vision, the central shaft 35 and the end of the flexible shaft 22 carrying the worm 4I are both journalled in a casing 42 which is supported against a bracket member 43 by studs or pins 44 which permit horizontal sliding movement of the casing 42.

Referring to Fig. 4, the lower left hand stud 44 is carried by the casing 42 and its cooperating horizontal slot is formed in the bracket 43. The remaining two studs 44 are carried by the bracket 43 and their cooperating horizontal slots are formed in the casing 42. It will therefore be seen that horizontal movement of the casing from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 is accompanied by similar horizontal movement ofthe lower left hand stud 44 but that the remaining two studs 44 will remain relatively stationary. An elongated slot 52 is formed in the bracket member 43 to permit horizontal movement of the shaft 35 with 'respect thereto. For controlling the horizontal movement of the casing 42 an arm 45 is positioned against the face of the bracket member 43 opposite the casing 42 and supported thereagainst by an eccentric pivot 46.` The eccentric pivot 46 is carried at one end of a flexible shaft 41 whose other end is journalled in a convenient location for manipulation by the operator of the vehicle, in the present instance the instrument board of the vehicle, and is provided with a knob 48 to facilitate manual rotation thereof.

The router end of the arm 45 is pivotally connecte'd. to one of the casing supporting studs or pins 44 and consequently manual rotation 'of the knob 48 in either direction will, because of the eccentric mounting of the arm 45, cause the casing 42 to move horizontally between the terminal positions illustrated in Figs.l 4 and 5.

When the casing and its associated parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the crank arm 36, which is fixed to the shafti and spaced from the bracket 43 sumciently to clear the varm 45, rotates freely and oscillates its associated arms- 33 to cause normal operation of the cleaner. When, however, the knob 48 is rotated to move the eccentric 46 and the arm 45 into the position illustrated in Fig. `5, the casing is moved with respect to the bracket 43 into such position that a pin 56 carried by the bracket 43,

lies in the path of rotation of the arm 36, preventing further rotation thereof and 'stopping the arm 36 in a predetermined angular position.

In normal operation the rotation of the crank 36 results in oscillation ofthe wiper arms 36 and their associated blades 38 through an arc which is defined in Fig. 2 by the diagrammatically illustrated blade and arm A andthe dot and dash line B. The pin 56 is so located on the bracket 43 that rotationv of the crank 36 is arrested in a position wherein ,the links 31, the arms 34, the gears and pinions 33 and 3|, and the wiper arms 36 are at one end of their oscillatory path of movement. In the present instance that end is attained by arresting 'the crank 36 in an vapproximately horizontal `position.

It will be noted that the arresting movement of the assembly, which includes the casing 42, arm 36, its shaft 35, the gear 46 and the worm 4|, is from rightto left as viewed in Fig.l 4 and that this longitudinal movement of the parts mentioned results in additional oscillation of the arms 34, the gears and pinions 33 and 3|, and the wiper arm 36, causing the wiper arms 36 and their associated blades 38 to come to rest in the position indicated by the dot and dash line C. -In this way .the wipers are always stopped or parked in a position outside their normal field of operation and outside the normal iield of vision of the operator of the vehicle.

The wiper element 38 will be oscillated over the glass as long as the cleaner system is in operation and the operating flow of liquid continues in circulation. However, to arrest the wiper action it is only necessary to stop( the mechanical driving parts between the wiper and the liquid flow since provision is made to by-pass the liquid without discontinuing its circulatory movement. This may be accomplished by a separate channel although it is desirably performed by having enclosing housing I5 so dimensioned as to afford the desired clearance about the driving member of the fluid pressure operated motor element I8.

While one form of my present invention has been specifically illustrated and described, Vit is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle having a power plant with a force feed lubricating system, a duid prsure actuated motor embodying a fluid driven rotating element mounted in a branch path of iiow of the lubricant from the system to be driven thereby, a remotely located accessory shaft mechanically connected to the rotating element by flexible drive means for being driven lthereby, and means for positively arresting the accessory shaft against the tendency to move caused by the fluid flow.

2. A motor vehicle having a power plant with a force feed lubricating system, a fluid pressure actuated motor embodying a fluid driven rotating element mounted in a path of flow of the lubricant from the system to be driven thereby and so constructed that also i-t may beheld arrested when said fluid pressure isacting thereon, a remotely located accessory shaft mechanically connected to the rotating element by mechanical transmission means 'for being driven thereby, and neans for positively arresting the accessory shaft against a tendency to move caused by .the nuid flow.

3. A motor vehicle having a power plant with a force feed lubricating system operated by said power plant, a fluid pressure actuated motor comprising a fluid driven element mounted in the path of flow of the lubricant from the system to be driven thereby and so constructed that also it may be held arrested when said iiuid pressure is acting thereon, a remotely located accessory shaft mechanically connected to the fluid driven element by mechanicalmeans for being driven thereby, said force feed lubricating system and fluid pressure actuated motor constituting a iluid slip clutch between the power plant and said accessory shaft whereby the driving relationship of the bustion propelling engine and a crank case therefor, a force feed lubricating system associated with said crank case, said crank case having an opening in the wail thereof, a removable support adapted to fit over and close said opening, a drive shaftjourn-aled in said support, a rotor secured to said shaft within said crank case and removable shaft and said accessory for operating the latter.

5. A motor vehicle having an internal combustion propelling engine and a crank case therefor, a force feed lubricating system associated with said crank case and having a pressure jet disposed therein adjacent a wall of said crank. case for emitting lubricating fluid under pressure,

Ysaid crank case having an opening in the wall thereof adjacent said jet, a removable support adapted to close said opening and having `a drive shaft journaled therein, a vrotor secured to said shaft within said crank case to be driven by fluid discharging from said jet under pressure, said rotor being openly disposed in said crank case whereby spent operating fluid falls to the 'bottom of the crank case, and said rotor being with-1 drawable from operating relationship with the iiuid jet with and upon removal of the support from said opening, a portion of said shaft eX- tending outside of said support, a remotely located accessory, and ilexlble drive means positively connecting said shaft and said, accessory for operating the latter. v

ERWIN C. HORTON. 

